HDR Field Checklist

2025-10-02

Shooting HDR in the field rewards photographers who treat capture like a small systems project. Each location demands deliberate prep and real-time checks so the final tone mapping feels natural instead of exaggerated. This checklist keeps my field workflow focused, portable, and ready for the single ultra-high-quality export that powers the Zillion Visionary site.

Tripod mounted camera capturing an HDR harbor sunrise
Golden-hour setup: locked tripod, spirit level, and remote release to keep exposure brackets aligned.Download JPEG Ultra HDR

Before leaving the studio

  • Sync camera bodies and backup bodies to `YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm` so EXIF sorting stays sane.
  • Charge every battery, then stash one labelled spare per body in an easy-access pouch.
  • Clear cards and set RAW+JPEG (Ultra HDR) capture so the fallback file is ready instantly.
  • Pack ND filters and a lightweight collapsible reflector for controlling spill.
  • Print the shot list with framing sketches; I annotate exposure brackets directly on it.

On-site setup

I aim to lock the mechanical side first so I can watch light transitions without fiddling with gear. Stability and timing beat chasing every transient hue.

  1. Scout for anchors (leading lines, surfaces for reflections) before extending legs.
  2. Level tripod with the built-in bubble then confirm with the camera's electronic level.
  3. Dial manual focus, magnify live view, and set a focus pull marker for the primary subject.
  4. Bracket five exposures in 2-stop increments; map the sequence to muscle memory.
  5. Trigger a dry run via remote release while watching histogram roll-off. Adjust if any channel clips.
Notebook with HDR exposure notes beside a camera bag
Every location gets handwritten exposure notes; they travel back to the grading session.

Before breaking down

The last five minutes on-site save hours later. I run one more sweep before packing so the eventual Phocus export is painless.

  • Review brackets in-camera; tag keepers and note any bracket that needs exposure compensation.
  • Capture bonus texture plates (water, foliage, sky) that can act as blend layers if needed.
  • Record ambient audio on a phone; it helps recreate the mood while grading.
  • Photograph lighting conditions for reference (phone pano works) before the scene changes.

Back at the studio I import straight into Phocus, apply the matching session preset, and export a single Ultra HDR JPEG that feeds the AVIF conversions. A disciplined capture workflow is the reason every gallery image on Zillion Visionary survives nitpicky scrutiny, even when rendered to SDR browsers.